International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2015; 3(1): 43-47
ISSN: 2347-5129
(ICV-Poland) Impact Value: 5.62
(GIF) Impact Factor: 0.352
IJFAS 2015; 3(1): 43-47
2015 IJFAS
www.fisheriesjournal.com
Received: 20-06-2015
Accepted: 24-07-2015
J Abboud
Department of Animal Sciences,
Faculty of Agriculture and
Animal Sciences. Lebanese
University, Lebanon.
J. Aoun
Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science II, Lebanese
University, P.O. Box: 90656
Fanar, Beirut, Lebanon.
B Jammal
Department of Animal Sciences,
Faculty of Agriculture and
Animal Sciences. Lebanese
University, Lebanon.
R El Rammouz
Department of Animal Sciences,
Faculty of Agriculture and
Animal Sciences. Lebanese
University, Lebanon.
AM Saab
Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science II, Lebanese
University, P.O. Box: 90656
Fanar, Beirut, Lebanon.
Correspondence
AM Saab
Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science II, Lebanese
University, P.O. Box: 90656
Fanar, Beirut, Lebanon.
Effect of chemical accumulation and temperature on
fish production in Lebanese water ponds
J Abboud, J Aoun, B Jammal, R El Rammouz, AM Saab
Abstract
This work focuses on the evaluation of water quality in four different constructed Tilapia fish breeding
wetlands in Lebanon under several conditions. The complete analysis of water included the organoleptic
evaluation, physical parameters, chemical and bacteriological characteristics. It has been found that water
in created water ponds for fish production does not correspond to international water quality standards.
The results reveal that the study area faces bacteriological pollution level in this area is above the
criterion specified for aquaculture. It was found out that the water quality was not good and the
phosphate and nitrite contents in the water were above standard level and thus needs to be treated
continuously. While the impact of this study on the environment is of crucial importance to the local
farmers, the whole region will benefit from the provided model in order to obtain good water with all the
biological nutrients, at the same without any excess of non-desirable compounds.
Keywords: Water ponds, Wetlands, Water quality, Fish species, Agriculture.
1. Introduction
Aquaculture is the interesting aim of promoting production to meet the increasing demand for
aquatic products. Large-scale commercial tilapia farming is limited to the culture of three
species: Oreochromis aureus, Oreochromis mossambica, and Oreochromis niloticus. The
latter species has aquaculture potential and is known as the Nile Tilapia; this species is by far
the most commonly grown tilapia species in fish farming [1, 2]. Farming strategies for tilapia
range from the simple to the very complex. Simple strategies are characterized by little control
over water quality and food supply and by low fish yields [3]. Water is one of the most essential
factors for civilization. Water quality degradation by various sources becomes an important
issue around the world. Usage of more land for agricultural purposes, soil salinization,
increase in the use of agricultural Fertilizers have become problems threatening natural water
source. As greater controls over water quality and fish nutrition are imposed, production costs
and fish yields are increased. Across this spectrum, there is a progression from low to high
management intensity [4]. In traditional pond culture of Tilapia, proper environmental
conditions are maintained by balancing the input of feed with the natural primary production
capacity of the pond [5]. Commercial intensive aquaculture systems are built and they are
managed similarly in todays farms. Critical environmental parameters include the
concentrations of dissolved oxygen, un-ionized ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, suspended
solids and carbon dioxide in the water [6, 7]. It should be noted that many of the physical
properties and chemical and biological characteristics are interrelated. For example,
temperature, which is a physical property, affects both the amount of gases dissolved in water
and the biological activity in this water [8]. The measurement of turbidity is based on
comparison of the intensity of light scattered by a sample to the light scattered by a reference
suspension under the same conditions [9]. The results of turbidity measurements are reported in
nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). The concentration of nitrites is a result of the nitrification
process as well as some fish wastes. The nitrogen gas formation is due to the reduction of
nitrites [10]. Phosphorus exists in ponds as phosphates or hydrogen phosphates. These
compounds constitute an important parameter that should be identified in order to enhance fish
production [11]. Water quality in the intensive ponds depends on the water entering, the
biological processes within, and the water leaving the ponds [12]. Within all intensive ponds
provided good growth conditions, with tilapia biomass having influence on water quality [13].
The tilapia biomass increased in organic nitrogen compounds exclusively in paddle-wheel
aerated ponds and reduction of the organic nitrogen load is done through a more efficient
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International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies
removal of food particles [14, 15, 16]. Draining sediments
accumulated on the bottom will prevent the occurrence of
anaerobic conditions that allows denitrification and
phosphorus liberation [17]. The only case to consider in this
paper is that the water exchange system in which the amount
of pollutants increases is a function of time, season and
location of the farm. All measurements were done during the
four seasons since in Lebanon the seasons are very different
during the year [18]. All basins are used for tilapia fish
production that are commercialized and used in situ for food
service in restaurants [19, 20]. None of the owners is satisfied by
the current yields and the analysis of water was of crucial
need. The aim of this present investigation is to analyze water
samples from four Lebanon's locations in order to determine
the concentration of chemical and biological pollutants.
2. Material and methods
2.1 Chemicals
Chemicals and reagents used for the study of analysis work
were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Co. (St. Louis, MO,
USA), while other chemicals, kits and glassware were
purchased from Merck (Beirut, Lebanon).
2.2 Samples and analysis
Water samples were taken from four Lebanon's locations
which are Halim's farm in the suburb of Beirut, Al
Khodar's farm in Tripoli, Baacir's farm in Mount Lebanon
and Al Chawi's farm in the Bekaa valley and they were
investigated in order to determine the concentration of the
chemical and biological pollutants. These water samples were
collected in sterile bottles and transported to the laboratory,
where bacterial analysis was done within 4 hours of collection.
Temperature, color, transparency and solid suspension were
measured before bacteria analysis began. Assays and
measurements were performed according to French standards
[21]
. The characteristic parameters of the tropic level are: total
phosphates expressed in mgP /1 (NF T 90-023); - Nitrates (NF
T 90-012), nitrite (NF T90-013) and ammonia nitrogen (NF T
90-015), expressed in mgN / 1. Total coliforms, fecal
streptococci, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were measured
using spread plate and membrane filtration methods as
described in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water
and Waste water [22]. Protein, lipids and ash were determined
according to the standard AOAC method [23].
2.3 Statistical analysis
All experiments were carried out in triplicate. Data were
expressed as means S.D. Differences were evaluated by one-
way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test completed by
Dunnetts test. Differences were considered significant at **p
< 0.01. The concentration was calculated by nonlinear
regression curve with the use of Prism Graphpad Prism
version 4.0 for Windows [GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA,
USA (www.graphpad.com)].
3. Results and discussion
Although the temperature for all locations was within the
acceptable range, the values of solid suspension change
.
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between locations and thus the transparency and color are
changed (Table I). Halims location had the maximum activity
since it has the lowest transparency and consequently the
highest solid suspension and color. The second main step was
to investigate the bacteriological aspect of these farms (Table
II). The amounts of total coliforms show an increase from
winter to summer which is primarily due to the effect of
increasing temperature on the bacteria proliferation, which
decrease after summer. Such behavior is shown with the
amount of pseudomonas with a more visible change, whereas
the amount of streptococci remains almost steady during all
the seasons. Once again, Halims farm shows to be the most
active and interesting farm to be studied. All the
bacteriological data show a significant amount of change in the
number of bacteria throughout the year. We focused especially
on the work of such bacteria for the production of nitrites
which could then be reduced. For that reason, the
concentration of nitrites was studied in the four locations and it
was indicated that the values were directly related to bacteria
concentration. Halims farm showed the highest concentration
amount of nitrites due to the highest bacterial activity in the
basin. We shall therefore continue our investigation on this
farm and extend it to the others since the results were
identically to Halims farm. Additional measurements of total
nitrogen and ammonia (Tables III and IV) confirmed this
investigation. The principle sources of nitrogen compounds are
(1) the nitrogenous compounds from plants and from animal
origin, (2) sodium nitrate and (3) atmospheric nitrogen. All
ponds are located in agriculture areas where the water and soil
are polluted by the above mentioned sources of nitrogen. This
can be observed in the highest values for total nitrogen during
the summer season after the dry summer season and before
any rain that may eliminate some of these pollutants. In fact all
the values, compared to the French regulations and standards
AFNOR show the high decomposition of organic compounds
in the basin. Moreover the concentration of phosphates leads
to confirm this study (Table V). Phosphorus is essential to the
growth of algae and other biological organisms. There is
presently much interest in controlling the amount of
phosphorus compounds that enter surface waters. The most
common forms of phosphorus that are found include
orthophosphates, polyphosphate and organic phosphates.
Although they are available for biological metabolism, they
should not trespass standards above which it will become an
overcharge which needs to be eliminated. Once the major
properties of water have been investigated, it is worth to
consider the productive qualities as well as the morphological
parameters concerning Tilapia fish (Table VI and VII). First
live weights were measured during five months and the results
were not satisfying because these species may easily have 20%
more live weight when raised in suitable farms. This is
confirmed by all the morphological measurements that have
been done: The comparison of fish bodies with international
standards shows the fact that the excess of pollutants decreases
the quality of fish production.
International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies

Table 1: Physical properties of matter in fish farms.

Table 2: Bacteriological content of water in fish farms.

Table 3: Amount of total nitrogen in water, Halim fish farm.

Table 4: Ammonia concentration in water, Halim fish farm.

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International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies
Table 5: Amount of total phosphates in water, Halim fish farm.
Table 6: Productive qualities of total fish.
Table 7: Morphological parameters of growth and development of fish.
4. Conclusions
Water, especially in the summer season in Lebanese fish farms
is subjected to many factors that may increase its ability to
enhance bacterial activity. The differences in values from
morning until evening depend upon chemical concentrations
resulting from decomposition of organic compounds as well as
minerals already existing in water source. The four Tilapia fish
farms investigated show an excess of some parameters and
chemicals that affect directly the quality of fish production.
Baacir, Al Chawi, Halim and Al Khodar farms show similar
variations of solid suspension and nitrites, and the higher
values were obtained by the study on Halima's farm. This
phenomenon affected the morphological parameters of fish
where, according to standards, the quality of Tilapia fish
decreases function of time passed in such farms and the need
to exchange water becomes crucial. Moreover, exchanging
water causes an important variation of temperature, this
certainly leads to a disturbance in fish environment and it will
look like that fish are moved from a basin to another.
Furthermore the exchange of water eliminates most of
phytoplanktons and microorganisms that are biological food
for fish. Finally it is concluded that these farms are in an
urgent need to obtain good water with all the biological
nutrients, at the same temperature, without any excess of non-
desirable compounds.
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